Combined convalescent couch and bedpan support for babies



March 17, 1953 R. F. HYLAND COMBINED CONVALESCENT COUCH AND BEIDPAN SUPPORT FOR BABIES Filed Aug. 29, 1951 Fwd v INV EN TOR. RAYMOND F HYLA/VD A TTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1953 COMBINED CONVALESCENT COUCH AND BEDPAN SUPPORT FOR BABIES R ym nd F. Hylan Rocheste N- Y- Application August 29, 1951, Serial No. 244,145

3 Claims.

1 The present invention relates to a combined convalescent couch and bedpan holder, and more particularly to a device for supporting a person,

whose lower limbs are in a cast, in a prone position with a bedpan so located that the person can evacuate at will into the bedpan.

In astill more specific aspect, the invention relates to a device for holding a baby, that is in a cast, in position so that when the baby evacuates it will do so into a bedpan and not soil itself or the bedclothes.

When a child is afflicted with the condition known as congenital hip, the child has to be placed in a cast which holds the upper portion of the childs legs at right angles to the body, and the child has to be kept in that cast for a year or more. The child has to stay in the cast both while asleep and while awake. Because of the babys age and condition a special rest or couch is ordinarily procured for it. The conventional couch or rest for this purpose comprises a metal frame across which two longitudinally-spaced pieces of canvas are stretched, the childs head and upper portion of the childs body resting on one piece of canvas, and the lower portion of the The space between the two pieces of canvas is provided so that the child can evacuate into a bedpan placed under this space. Y

Inasmuch as the correction of a condition such as congenital hip is made while the child is in infancy, the child because of its age it not aware that it should remain still while evacuating. With the device heretofore used, therefore, the canvas of the support is frequently soiled as are also the bedclothes.

A primary Object of the present invention is to provide a device in which a child afllicted with a condition such as congenital hip may be placed while convalescing and which will support the infant comfortably while restraining the baby from movement while urinating r defecat- .ms-

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character describedwhich may serve as an actual couch on which the child can repose at all times and yet which will hold the child securely against twisting or turning during evacuation.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the character described which will be simple in construction, easy to make, low in cost and easy to keep clean.

Still other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the Specification and from therecital of the appended claims.

' childslimbs resting on the other piece of canvas.

' terials.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combined couch and bedpan support made according to one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view on a somewhat. redu; .d scale of this device and illustrating how it is used, the hold down straps being omitted for clearness in illustration; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device.

The device comprises a support or rest Ill which may be made of wood, metal, plastic, metal frame and canvas, or any other suitable material .or ma- It has preferably .a plane upper face. The support 10 has a centrally disposed elongated opening ll extending from one end of the support toward the'other for a little more than half the length of the support. This opening is bounded along its sides by the two leg portions l2 and I3 of the support. Secured to the upper face of the support In at the inner terminal end of the slot H to project upwardly from the support is a saddle member l5 which has an arcuate seat or socket l6 formed therein. Projecting rearwardly from the saddle and extending along the opposed edges of the leg members l2 and I 3 are two erect wings or guards I8 and I9. These are provided, adjacent the saddle board IS, with aligned arcuate sockets or recesses 20 and 2|, respectively, to receive the leg portions of the childs cast. The axis of the sockets 20 and 2| is in the embodiment illustrated at right angles to the axis of the socket I6.

secured to the underside of the support In beneath the legs 12 and I3 is a receptaclejor chamber '25. This receptacle is rectangular in cross section. It is closed at its sides and bottom, and at its inner end, the inner end wall being denoted at 26. It is open at its top to register with the opening ll between the legs l2 and I3 of the support; and it has its outer end open so that a bedpan 28 can readily be slid into and out of it.

In a congenital hip condition, a baby such as shown at B in Fig. 2 is placed in a generally T- shaped cast 30 which surrounds the childabout the waist and is made so as to holdthe'upper portions 3 of the childs two legs at right angles to the body. The childs lower limbs 32 maybe free, but the childs legs are rigidly held at their upper portions by the cast. The upper portions of the childs body and its arms 34 are, of course, free. The cast is also left open, as denoted at 36, both in the front and back so that the child can freely evacuate.

In use the couch is ordinarily placed in the babys crib on top of the mattress; and the rest or support In including the leg portions l2 and I3 ing. In ordinary use the baby is laid prone, with its upper body on a pillow 40 or other cushion placed upon the top of the support I0 above the transverse saddle 15. The child is so positioned that the portion of the cast 38 about the waist of the'child seats in the recess 5 in the saddle 7 member [5 and the leg portions of the cast seat in the sockets and 2| of the wing members I8 and IS. The child is then fastened in place by the strap or straps 45 attached to thesaddle member l5.

The'child can be left on this combined couch and bedpan support at all times with the bedpan 28 in" forward position against the wall 26.- A hoop member 29 may be secured at opposite ends to the wings l8 and 19 so as to support the bedclothes in position to keep the infant warm but clear of the infant so that they will not be soiled.

The child can be left on the couch allday and all night. Inasmuch as an infant is not able to give advance notice as to just how he is going to evacuate, it is preferable to leave the child face down on the couch. However, in instances where it is obvious that the child desires to defecate', the child can be picked up ofi the couch and laidback down upon it. The bedpan 28 can readily be slipped into or removed from the device for cleaning. 7

' Blocks 46 may be secured under the upper end of support In in opposite corners thereof, which are'of the same height as the walls of receptacle to prevent the couch from tipping.

Obviously the support l0 and sideboards l8 and I9 can each be made in two or more parts adjustable longitudinally and transversely with reference to one another so as to take care of the growth of a child. It will be understood, also, that while the invention has been illustrated in connection with a device for a childs use, it has applicationalso to combined couches and bedpan supports for adult patients. While the invention has been illustrated, then, in connec- 'tion with 'a specific embodiment thereof and a specific use therefor, it is capable of further modification. This application is intended to cover any variations. uses, or adaptations of the inventin following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or cus- 1. A combined convalescent couch and bedpan holder on which a patient may lie prone comprising a support having an opening therein through which the patient may evacuate, a saddle member extending transversely across said support and having a socket therein to receive a portion of the patients torso, a pair of restraining members disposed at opposite sides, respectively, of said opening and having sockets therein to receive the legs of the patient with the legs straddling said opening, and means for supporting a bedpan beneath said opening.

2. A combined convalescent couch and bedpan holder on which a patient may lie prone comprising a support having an elongated opening therein which extends from one end thereof to a point intermediate the ends of said support, said open- Y ing being open at the said one end of said support and closed at its opposite end, a saddle member extending transversely across said support at approximately the closed end of said opening and having a socket therein to receive a portion of the patients torso, a pair of restraining members extending respectively along opposite sides of said opening and having sockets therein to receive, respectively, the two legs of'the patient with the legs straddling said opening, and a holder secured beneath said support and closed on three sides but open at the same end as said opening, said holder providing a housing into which a bedpan may be slid to register with said opening.

3. A combined convalescent couch and bedpan holder on which a patient may lie prone comprising a support having an elongated opening therein which extends from one end thereof to a point intermediate the ends of said support, said opening being open at the said one end of said support and closed at its opposite end, a saddle member extending transversely across said support at approximately the closed end of said opening and having a socket therein to receive a portion of the patients torso, a pair of restraining members extending respectively along opposite sides of said opening and having sockets therein to receive, respectively, the two legs of the patient with the legs straddling said opening, and a holder secured beneath said support and closed on three sides but open at the same end as said opening, said holder providing a housing into which a bedpan may be slid to register with said opening, said restraining members projecting upwardly from said support higher than the legs of the patient to form guards to prevent soiling of the legs of the patient during evacuation.

RAYMOND F. HYLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 828,007 Williams Aug. '7, 1906 1,252,751 Weatherford Jan. 8, 1918 1,919,908 Schmidt et al July 25, 1933 2,470,398 Hayes May 17, 1949 

